Big – bellied seahorse

Scientific name: Hippocampus abdominales

DESCRIPTION:

The big-bellied seahorse, as the name would suggest, has a prominent belly, much larger in the males due to a developed incubating bag, generally pearly white. Its colour varies from dark grey to yellow, orange and white, depending on the habitat, depth and location. The body and tail are generally flat, often with broad bands and numerous, small stains on the dorsal fin. The males usually have darker stains and a vertical yellow band near the cover of the bag. They also have a longer tail and a shorter and wider snout than the females. This is one of the larger species of horses, and may measure up to 35 cm in length.